Rgiss
Well-Known Member
It's a great read. I'll copy it all down here. Here's his twitter profile
Give him a follow since I deserve no credit whatsoever.
I've also made a playlist of the clips here. I originally had all of the clips linked to the thread but I guess you can only have 5 videos linked per thread.
Editing to link to videos rather than add them as "Videos"
Give him a follow since I deserve no credit whatsoever.
I've also made a playlist of the clips here. I originally had all of the clips linked to the thread but I guess you can only have 5 videos linked per thread.
I am absolutely in love with the Utah Jazz’s recent addition of George Hill. Here are my thoughts (with clips included):
Note: Hill’s role in Indiana is not indicative of his actual skillset. He went largely underutilized throughout his career in Indiana.
Hill is a strong defender, and his 6-9 wingspan adds some much-needed length to Utah’s perimeter group.
Kyle Lowry was reminded of Hill’s defensive prowess in the playoffs. Here is Lowry’s playoff breakdown:
Utah was No. 8 in DefRtg at 101.6 pts/100 possessions this past season, a slight disappointment given what we saw a year earlier.
Utah’s DEF regressed significantly from their late-season surge in 2014-15 (after the team traded away defensive liability Enes Kanter).
After trading Kanter (27.1 mpg) and replacing him w/ Gobert (whose mpg spiked from 21.9 to 34.8), Utah began molding a defensive identity.
In 29 games after trading Kanter in 2014-15, Utah logged a DefRtg of 94.8 pts/100 possessions. (https://NBA.com/Stats )
That DefRtg led the league by 4.6 pts/100 possessions over that time span. (https://NBA.com/Stats )
Perspective: A 94.8 DefRtg would have been 1.8 pts/100 possessions better than San Antonio’s incredible mark this season.
That difference of 4.6 pts/100 possessions is nearly the same difference b/n the fourth-best defense this past year (BOS) and No. 20 (HOU).
Note: Gobert missed 21 games this year (and some of their defensive regression has to be attributed to his absence). Utah was 7-14 w/o him. (RGISS Note: Utah was also 10-21 when he played less than 20 minutes, while they were 30-21 when he played more than 20 minutes)
With Hill (and Gobert’s return to full health), Utah should be able to notch one of the best defensive ratings in the league next season.
Hill's denial defense should be on full display in Utah (w/ the ultimate safety blanket in Gobert behind him).
Video 1
Offensively, a traditional, ball-dominant PG doesn’t fit well w/ Utah’s roster construction. Hayward and Hood are both capable playmakers.
The Jazz use Hood and Hayward as the primary ball handlers in PnR situations, while their point guards usually spot up off of the ball.
Here are the best 3PT catch-and-shoot players (>100 3PTAs) this past season from https://NBA.com/Stats .
This is a perfect role for Hill, one of the best spot up players in the league. Now, let’s talk about Utah’s rollers.
Only ten players (with more than 100 plays) notched a higher FG% as a PnR roller than Gobert. (https://NBA.com/Stats )
Good luck guarding that man rolling to the hoop in semi-transition...
Video 2
Favors wasn’t too shabby himself in the PnR (better than 72.6 percent of rollers in PPP). (https://NBA.com/Stats )
In terms of ball handlers, Hood (77th) & Hayward (64th) were both above league avg in PPP as the PnR ball handler (https://NBA.com/Stats ).
Here, Hood makes a crosscourt pass to the corner. Does it look similar to any lefties you've seen before?
Video 3
These passes to the W/S corner are quite common for Hood in the PnR, and they consistently generate open looks.
Video 4
Hood has demonstrated the ability to make Manu's patented crosscourt pass to the W/S corner in the PnR.
Video 5
Hayward slides over to bump Boban on the roll. Manu’s pass to Kawhi is perfectly placed, just missing Hayward's outstretched arms.
Utah loves to flare screen and then flow into the PnR. Burke W/S fills and Hood lobs to Gobert.
Video 6
Hood's feel in the PnR is incredible. He loves to create space w/ his body and then pull up over the defender.
Video 7
More of the same from Hood, who loves putting his defender in jail off of ball screens.
Video 8
Hood can also pocket pass in the PnR. Here, he hits Favors on the roll with his inside hand (take note, kids).
Video 9
With two PnR ball handlers and two rollers on the court, Utah likes to run back-to-back PnRs.
Video 10
Hood runs off of a flare screen which becomes a ball screen. The ball is swung to the other PnR pairing on the left wing. Gobert lays it in.
Now, imagine a PnR with Hood as the ball handler, Gobert as the roller and Hill spotting up in the W/S corner.
More Fun Stuff: Utah loves the handoff for Hayward. He can either turn the corner looking to pass or to shoot.
Here, he hits Favors rolling to the hoop, and Favors makes a great read and pass to Hood on the W/S.
Video 11
However, if the defense doesn't fight through the screen, Hayward can come off of the handoff and drain the 3.
Video 12
And just when you think you have the handoffs solved, Hayward will backcut when he catches you guessing.
Video 13
In isolation situations, Hood (95th) & Hayward (65th) were both above league avg in PPP. (https://NBA.com/Stats ).
Hood doesn't need a ball screen to generate offense. Here, he flat out toys with Jimmy Butler
Video 14
As a percentage of their total shots, Utah generated the third-most corner 3s this past season (9.6% of FGAs). (https://NBA.com/Stats )
This is good news for Hill, who shot 44.5% from the corner 3 this past season and 39.9% from there in his career. (Basketball-Reference)
Most of Utah’s looks from the corner came in PnR situations. However, Snyder can also get creative in generating open corner 3s for Hill.
Here's a fun set to open the game from Coach Vogel, which opens up Hill in the right corner for 3.
Video 15
This a lot of fun. Run around until you find yourself wide open in the corner.
Video 16
By adding Hill (along with Shelvin Mack), Utah will no longer have to rely on Trey Burke (who has yet to show signs of a pulse in the NBA).
Although Hill was not asked to play-make a whole lot this past season for the Pacers, he is capable of it when called upon.
Two years ago, with Paul George injured, Hill was called upon offensively, and he responded with the best season of his career.
In a year when he notched a career-high 23.8% USG, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.3 assists per 36 minutes (both career highs).
He also logged the second-highest TS% (57.9%) of his career in that season. When called upon, George Hill delivered. But the Pacers rewarded Hill’s career year by signing a ball-dominant shooting guard in Monta Ellis (who notched a 21.2% USG w/ Indiana).
Hill’s USG% dipped to 15.8% (second-lowest % of his career). So after a career year, he was barely even used! (Basketball-Reference)
When Hill was given the opportunity to create with the ball in his hands this past season, he once again showed that he was fully capable.
I'm sure we will see some of this with Hill and Gobert next season.
Video 17
George Hill finds Jordan Hill under the hoop for a layup after turning the corner on the PnR.
Video 18
Hill comes off a ball screen and knocks down the pull-up jumper with ease.
Video 19
Hill is a heady basketball player w/ a wide array of skills, which is why Pop called him his "favorite player."
Video 20
With Hill on board, virtually all of Utah’s lineups will have at least one playmaker (Hill/Hayward/Hood) on the court.
Alongside Hood & Hayward, Hill can spot up off of the ball. With Hayward/Hood out, he is capable of making plays with the ball in his hands.
Closing Thoughts: I think @kpelton is right about the Jazz being one of the five best teams in the Western Conference next season.
Editing to link to videos rather than add them as "Videos"
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